A new tone. The last preparatory stage for the conference in Hong Kong was encouraging and useful, despite the confirmation of differences of opinion and uncertainty subsisting about the result of the "Doha Round". Never before has the EU been so frank and open in its affirmation of its concept of trade negotiations on an international scale. Boiling it down to customs duty and other obstacles to trade will not suffice: it could, on the contrary, prove harmful for the poorest countries. I am...